Munising fail.
- Thread starter slowsi00
- Start date
groomerdriver
New member
X2! "Discovered" Munising back in the mid 80's. Too many bad trips there and won't go back again until things improve for several years in a row.
I have heard this excuse before and I don't buy it for one minute. ATV's of all kinds ride all over the U.P. The ATV trails in Munising are no more uneven than anywhere else up there. So to say you cant have a flat trail unless the ground is smooth when you start is crazy. If that were the case then all the trails would be paved so that you have a nice even surface. When you groom you are taking snow from the high spots and putting in to the low spots to even it out and make it smooth. Once again...if all the surrounding clubs can do it with the same snow and traffic then Munising should be able to do it too.
fusion900ryder
New member
We stopped going to the Munising area years ago because of trail 8 being such a joke. Sad too because it is probably the most fun area for trail riding in the UP. They need to make another trail that will take some of the traffic off 8. What about the ditch along M28 for part of it?
If there is too much traffic that any amount of groomers can't keep up with you need an alternate route. Seems like this would be part of the solution.
I know we won't be back until this problem is fixed. I know we are not the only riding group that feels this way too.Lots of money being lost by local retailers. If the problem was fixed it would mean a ton of money for the locals.
If there is too much traffic that any amount of groomers can't keep up with you need an alternate route. Seems like this would be part of the solution.
I know we won't be back until this problem is fixed. I know we are not the only riding group that feels this way too.Lots of money being lost by local retailers. If the problem was fixed it would mean a ton of money for the locals.
knappattack
New member
Maybe you did not read what I posted earlier. We were up at 7 AM to hit the trail early. It had not been groomed!!!!
Did not see the groomer till 7PM when we went back to the motel.
Trails should be groomed early morning when there is no traffic! It's just common sense.
It's not the dirt under then snow, its the lack of grooming at the proper time.
this makes no sense.
they get 250 inches a year in snow, the low spots would be filled in. you ever ride a four wheeler on a snowmobile trail in summer? it's amazing they can get the trail so smooth in winter with all the holes, dips and ruts and i'm willing to bet the earth isn't anymore uneven in musing than anywhere else. sounds like they got a grooming issue, or lack of grooming issue.
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I sent a lengthy email to MSA, Munising Visitors Bureau and left a voice mail for the DNR Rep for the area. Not surprisingly the only response I got was from Ron Corbett of MSA. He was very informative and blunt that alot of the problems are the grooming for pay contract, and as he put it the various entities (Munising Visitors Bureau, DNR, the business being paid to groom) are "intermingled", which I interpreted as the good old boys network, which seems to stymie MSA's efforts to improve the area.
He said in the past, MSA had brought experienced groomers in to teach and train the paid groomers, which would work for the short term, but as soon as they leave, its back to poor grooming practices.
He confirmed that there was a meeting last week, and another is being held this Thursday with the same entities with the expectation that the current contract is going to be taken away from whatever the business is that currently does it, and awarded to a different person/business which they seem to have lined up already.
I don't want to sound like a spokesperson for MSA, but being a paid member (despite living in WI), I was convinced that at least MSA is trying to do what they can. Since I haven't heard a response from Munising Visitors Bureau (including several others from my group that tried reaching out to them), my opinion is that "Bureau" doesn't value my snowmobiling tourist dollar. Maybe if I was an ice climber, Xcountry skier, or fat bike rider it would be different.
He said in the past, MSA had brought experienced groomers in to teach and train the paid groomers, which would work for the short term, but as soon as they leave, its back to poor grooming practices.
He confirmed that there was a meeting last week, and another is being held this Thursday with the same entities with the expectation that the current contract is going to be taken away from whatever the business is that currently does it, and awarded to a different person/business which they seem to have lined up already.
I don't want to sound like a spokesperson for MSA, but being a paid member (despite living in WI), I was convinced that at least MSA is trying to do what they can. Since I haven't heard a response from Munising Visitors Bureau (including several others from my group that tried reaching out to them), my opinion is that "Bureau" doesn't value my snowmobiling tourist dollar. Maybe if I was an ice climber, Xcountry skier, or fat bike rider it would be different.
snobuilder
Well-known member
Its that damn sugar snow.
Hopefully we see progress soon. I love the area to much to totally give up on it. As for the visitors bureau, Its a shame if they aren't responding to the feedback people are giving them, or even acknowledging it. But in all honesty, they really might not be feeling the effects of those that have given up on Munising. I was there last weekend, and going into the trip I had no place to stay. Just winged it banking on someone making a cancellation while we were up there. Every hotel I called was booked solid, I was shocked. Now try getting a room over Valentines weekend...I finally slid into a cancellation at the Cherrywood yesterday, while on a waiting list on a different hotel that I like better. Everywhere else is pretty booked solid up there. I wouldn't count on the visitors bureau for much. Lets hope the MSA...and whoever holds the new contract comes through! 
uprider1100
New member
It's not the sugar snow. It's groomers grooming at 10 am on sat morning. Then going 15 to 20 mph and just skimming across the bumps so the snow lasts longer. I sold my cabin up in Munising just because of this. I would go there between Christmas and New Years and trails always sucked. Not due to lack of snow just lack of grooming. This will never change until local businesses get involved. The Buckhorn used to be so packed with sleds all winter long the could care less what the trails were like. There would be a 100 sleds parked outside. No they are lucky to have 20-25. With other states having snow no need to go to this area just for the snow. There attitude in this area was we have snow and most areas don't so we can treat people like crap and they will keep coming for the snow. I would bring a group of ten people to my place and we would stop for Sun morning bloody marrys and the business owner would piss and moan about having to make them and say 1 and that's it. They were busy and didn't feel they had to do it. Guess what they are now out of business. It's to bad because it's some beautiful area. Everyone who's heading there for a trip do yourself a favor and buy a forest road map and avoid the main trails and find better smoother routes. Fun can still be had but avoid main trails around Munising.
snobuilder
Well-known member
A group of 16 of us rolled into the Buckhorn from the west at around 1 PM on Friday the 24th and the trails were fine. I love the spsced out rollers in that area west of the Buckhorn and up to Christmas.
I hope they never get them perfectly flat. That would be boring as **** and I would never go back.
I have been riding for over 45 years.
The Buckhorn was farly busy for that time a day. The food and service was GREAT.
I understand it is under new ownership. I could sense that....very upbeat!
I also get that at the end of a long day a choppy trail to get you back to your comfy bed can be a killer,
but if you can't hack it then quit bragging about YOUR sleds superior suspension.....like so many do....LOL
....j/k
I have grabbed a handfull of snow from the trail 8 and literally was able to POUR it into my other hand.
We have returned to the Cherrywood late at night and have seen groomers out doing there best at 8-10 mph moving alot of snow.
I hope they never get them perfectly flat. That would be boring as **** and I would never go back.
I have been riding for over 45 years.
The Buckhorn was farly busy for that time a day. The food and service was GREAT.
I understand it is under new ownership. I could sense that....very upbeat!
I also get that at the end of a long day a choppy trail to get you back to your comfy bed can be a killer,
but if you can't hack it then quit bragging about YOUR sleds superior suspension.....like so many do....LOL
....j/k
I have grabbed a handfull of snow from the trail 8 and literally was able to POUR it into my other hand.
We have returned to the Cherrywood late at night and have seen groomers out doing there best at 8-10 mph moving alot of snow.
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Hopefully we see progress soon. I love the area to much to totally give up on it. As for the visitors bureau, Its a shame if they aren't responding to the feedback people are giving them, or even acknowledging it. But in all honesty, they really might not be feeling the effects of those that have given up on Munising. I was there last weekend, and going into the trip I had no place to stay. Just winged it banking on someone making a cancellation while we were up there. Every hotel I called was booked solid, I was shocked. Now try getting a room over Valentines weekend...I finally slid into a cancellation at the Cherrywood yesterday, while on a waiting list on a different hotel that I like better. Everywhere else is pretty booked solid up there. I wouldn't count on the visitors bureau for much. Lets hope the MSA...and whoever holds the new contract comes through!
The U.P. 200 Sled Dog Race Is Valentines Weekend In That Whole Area - Always A Crazy Weekend
This Weekend However , Most Hotels I Called Are Wide Open
Maybe Snow In The Lower Has Something To Doo With That ?
Nail on the Head - Good Old Boys Network - They are all tied together. It is a small town. Gerou is the current contract holder. Their location is right next to the Holiday in Wetmore. This is where you see the groomers parked all the time.
Christmas WEST and Seney EAST - Typically where other areas groom.
Ron Corbett called me again this morning and said "effective immediately" Bob Stein has been relived of his duties as the grant sponsor manager for the area. The owner from the former Days Inn (now Pictured Rocks Hotel) will be the new manager of the grooming operations.
Snocrazy....is this the same person that had been managing it last year or in the past?
Same here, been beaten up up there one to many times......my advise....stay away from that area.